KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will decide on Wednesday whether to continue competing in the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates, the board said, amid an ongoing row with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over replacing a match referee at the center of a Pakistan-India handshake dispute.

The PCB lodged a complaint with the ICC earlier this week, accusing Andy Pycroft of breaching the “Spirit of Cricket” by asking the Pakistan and India captains not to shake hands at the toss during Sunday’s match, seeking his removal.

The ICC has not issued an official statement yet, though some media reports suggest it has decided not to entertain Pakistan’s request.

“The PCB has not yet taken a final decision regarding the Asia Cup,” the board’s spokesperson, Aamir Mir, said in a statement late Tuesday.

“Consultations are underway and a final decision will be made by tomorrow,” he continued. “The decision will be taken keeping Pakistan’s interest in view.”

Pakistan is scheduled to face the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Dubai International Stadium today, but uncertainty looms over the decision to be taken by the PCB.

The Pakistan team canceled its pre-match press conference at the Asia Cup on Tuesday, though it attended the practice session.

According to AFP, the Pakistan team is still awaiting a response from the ICC regarding its complaint.
Pakistani media, citing Press Trust of India reports that quoted an unnamed ICC source, said yesterday that the ICC informed Pakistan that Pycroft would not be replaced.

Pycroft is scheduled to be the match referee for Pakistan’s game against the UAE as well.

Pakistan will again face arch-rival neighbor India if they beat the home side in Dubai today.

The Green Shirts suffered a seven-wicket defeat to India in their last match, which was the first played since the nuclear-armed countries fought a brief but deadly conflict in May.